Steve Kean happy with Blackburn transfer business

Chris Samba While Blackburn struggle this season both on and off the pitch, one of the few positives at Ewood Park has been the performances of central defender Chris Samba. The Congolese has been a rock at the back for Rovers and is easily Bl (GETTY IMAGES)

Blackburn manager Steve Kean is satisfied with his January transfer window business after he managed to keep hold of his star players.

The Rovers boss fended off interest for wantaway defender and captain Chris Samba and striker Junior Hoilett, who have both been linked with several clubs.

Keith Andrews was the only confirmed departure from the north west club on deadline day - although veteran Ryan Nelsen may be belatedly unveiled as a Tottenham player if his move went through in time last night - while Rovers secured two late additions before the window closed.

Midfielder Andrews, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Championship side Ipswich, moved to West Brom on a short-term contract until the end of the season.

Earlier yesterday, Blackburn secured the services of defender Marcus Olsson - who joins his twin brother Martin - on a free transfer from Swedish side Halmstad, with QPR defender Bradley Orr moving to Ewood Park on a two-and-a-half year deal.

They join striker Anthony Modeste who moved to Blackburn from Bordeaux on loan earlier in the month, with Rovers midfielder David Dunn signing a contract extension until June next year.

Despite only bringing three new players to the club, Kean is confident he has done enough to ensure Blackburn avoid relegation.

"We've managed to get three new players in," Kean said ahead of tonight's match with Newcastle. "We did our business on the way in and are done and dusted."

And the Rovers boss believes that Samba, who handed in a transfer request last month, with knuckle down and rediscover his best form now the window has closed.

"We were very strong with our statement earlier on," Kean said.

"We want him to be part of the club, he signed a long-term deal and we want him to get back on it and get his head around the fact that he's going to be here.

"In the last window and windows before that, as soon as it closed and he got his head around being here, his performance levels were excellent.

"It's never nice when someone makes a transfer request, but a contract is a two-way thing. We never accepted the transfer request and we want him to be a part of what we're trying to do here.

PA